-- EXPANSION SOLIDIFIES IRELAND’S STRATEGIC POSITION IN ALLERGAN’S GLOBAL NETWORK
-- NEW EY DKM ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT SHOWS ALLERGAN OPERATIONS GENERATED €308 MILLION IN GDP AND SUPPORTED 3,485 JOBS IN IRELAND’S ECONOMY IN 2018
Global life-science innovation leader, Allergan, which is headquartered in Ireland and operates four facilities here, has announced a €65 million capital investment programme for 2019 to facilitate the continued expansion of the company’s state-of-the art laboratories and manufacturing campuses at Westport in County Mayo and Clonshaugh in north Dublin. The Westport facility has created 63 new highly skilled jobs, bringing total employment in Ireland to more than 2,000 across the country. One in ten employees in Allergan’s global workforce is based in Ireland.
An EY DKM Economic Impact Assessment of Allergan’s operations in Ireland indicates that this 2019 capital investment programme will contribute €23 million to Ireland’s GDP this year and deliver €7 million in exchequer revenue. In 2018, Allergan generated a GDP impact of€308 million and supported 3,485 jobs in Ireland’s economy, generating exchequer revenue of €76 million.
Welcoming the announcement, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said: “This is great news for Westport and for Mayo and reinforces the region’s deserved reputation as a location for investment and innovation. It is further evidence of the confidence international companies like Allergan continue to have in Ireland.”
Welcoming the investment, Heather Humphreys T.D., Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, said: “Allergan has a long proud history in Ireland stretching back over 40 years and employ over 2,000 staff here at their 4 sites. This latest investment reaffirms their commitment to Westport, and it enhances Irelands reputation at the forefront of the Lifesciences sector. Allergan’s decision to grow their operations in the West of Ireland shows that we are succeeding in attracting high caliber companies and highly skilled jobs to our regions, which is a key priority of the Government.”
Allergan’s Westport campus is the largest and most complex in Allergan’s global network. Encompassing a pharmaceuticals facility, two biologics plants and an ocular implant facility, it is responsible for the global supply of flagship Allergan product BOTOX and manufactures a range of eye care products.
Announcing the investment, Mr. Paul Coffey, Vice President & Plant General Manager, Allergan Westport, said: “This €65 million investment further cements Ireland’s strategic role in Allergan’s global network. Continued investment of this scale builds on the €50 million investment programme in 2018 and €42 million in 2017 which allows us to apply world-class technology to Allergan’s leading innovation and product development strategy. We are expanding capacity to meet global demand and we are advancing our R&D capabilities to meet the needs of the future for our business. We are proud that 40 years on we are still growing and offering valuable employment opportunities in key regions of Ireland and we thank the communities around us for their continued support.”
The investment in Westport focuses on four key areas; two new manufacturing suites in its biologics facility to provide the capability to introduce new product formats for one of Allergan’s flagship products and the launch of a new product currently in development, as well as the completion of a new state-of-the-art microbiology and cell-based laboratory. The completion of the new Biologics facility – which represents a total investment of more than €140 million – is in the final stages of qualification and regulatory approval before commencing commercial production.
At its ocular implant facility in Westport, Allergan is introducing automated manufacturing processes using high-end robotics. This new technology could be used to produce products that have the potential to revolutionise the treatment of common eye conditions such as glaucoma. The company is also upgrading its existing manufacturing capabilities and capacity for the introduction of new eye care products due to launch in the coming years.
Investment at the Clonshaugh facility in Dublin, which encompasses two manufacturing facilities and the plc head office, will focus on expanding specialised manufacturing capability for new product development and the launch of new solid dose products currently in development. This facility plays a pivotal role in the delivery of Allergan’s global “Open Science” strategy by providing the critical small-scale pilot and manufacturing capability for Allergan’s important oral solid dosage product pipeline. It currently manufacturers products for the treatment of conditions including depression, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension.
Minister for Rural & Community Development, Mr. Michael Ring T.D., said: “This is a real vote of confidence in the Western region. Allergan is a fantastic employer and it’s great to see it further cement its presence here in Ireland. Speaking as someone from Westport, Allergan has had a remarkably positive impact on the town and on the region. This announcement is further evidence of how the West can provide a wonderful environment for investors and employers. I commend Allergan for putting their trust in the West of Ireland.”
Welcoming the investment, Mr. Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said: “Allergan’s commitment to Ireland has been exemplary and we warmly welcome this continued growth and expansion in Westport and Dublin. This latest €65 million investment brings Allergan’s total investment in Ireland to in excess of €670 million, which is a considerable vote of confidence in Ireland as a place to do business and in the IDA’s regional development strategy. With a 40-year heritage in Ireland, Allergan’s broad geographical footprint in Ireland is a great example for other pharmaceutical firms considering locating here. We wish Allergan continued success as a visionary leader delivering innovative and breakthrough treatments to the world from their strategic operations in Ireland."
Commenting on the Company’s announcement, former Taoiseach Mr. Enda Kenny, said: “I want to thank Allergan’s leadership team and its Board of Directors for their commitment to continued growth in Westport and Ireland, and to express confidence in their continued strong strategic leadership to grow Allergan as an innovative biopharmaceutical company in Ireland and around the world."
Allergan operates four facilities in Ireland - two manufacturing operations, one at Clonshaugh, Dublin and one in Westport, Co. Mayo - as well as an international supply chain office in Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin and a facility in Galway on foot of the acquisition of Zeltiq in April 2017. Zeltiq is a global leader in proprietary controlled-cooling technology for non-invasive fat reduction. The Westport and Clonshaugh facilities develop and manufacture a range of branded medicines primarily for the export market.
About Allergan
Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a global integrated speciality pharmaceutical leader. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world.
Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, a model of research and development, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. With this approach, Allergan has built one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry.
Allergan's success is powered by our global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right.
With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.
For more information, visit www.Allergan.com.
About Allergan in Ireland:
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Allergan is headquartered in Ireland and employs 2,055 in Ireland, where its roots stem back over 40 years.
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Allergan’s operations in Ireland have grown significantly since it first developed and opened its Westport plant on a greenfield site in Westport, Co. Mayo in 1977, with just 25 employees.
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Allergan operates four facilities in Ireland - two manufacturing operations, one at Clonshaugh, Dublin and one in Westport, Co. Mayo - as well as an international supply chain office in Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin and a facility in Galway, on foot of the acquisition of Zeltiq in April 2017. Zeltiq is a global leader in proprietary controlled-cooling technology for non-invasive fat reduction.
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The Westport and Clonshaugh facilities develop and manufacture a range of branded medicines, primarily for the export market.
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Ireland plays a critical role in the manufacturing of BOTOX, which is Allergan’s leading product globally, in terms of sales. Allergan’s Westport facility is a strategic part of the global Allergan network and is responsible for manufacturing the global supply of BOTOX.
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Marking 40 years in Ireland in 2017, Allergan announced a €42 million investment across its Clonshaugh and Westport manufacturing operations to support increased manufacturing capabilities for some of its key current and future products.
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The investment in Westport funded additional capacity for Allergan’s state-of-the-art eye care manufacturing operations and the expansion of its ocular implant manufacturing facility, accommodating both a capacity increase for existing products and the capability to accommodate new products, using the world class technology platforms available at Westport.
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In 2018, Allergan invested a further €50 million in its Irish business. This capital investment facilitated an expansion of its laboratory operations and manufacturing operations, for new products currently in development. This brings Allergan’s total investment in Ireland, to-date, to €675 million.
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As part of Allergan’s 40th anniversary celebrations in 2017, Allergan Ireland also introduced a new €50,000 Allergan Innovation Award Programme, in partnership with six Irish colleges and universities (Trinity, UCD, NUI Galway, IT Sligo, DCU and Galway-Mayo IT) around the country, aimed at encouraging research and innovation in the life sciences field.
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Allergan is currently Official Sponsor of the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, hosted by the Rory Foundation, as part of a three-year sponsorship.